PISCATAWAY – Rutgers football continues to be hit hard by injuries.

Starting tight end Kenny Fletcher and second-string tight end Victor Konopka will both miss the remainder of the season with injuries, the team announced prior to Saturday’s game against UCLA at SHI Stadium.

Fletcher and Konopka join linebacker Mohamed Toure, running back Sam Brown and left guard Bryan Felter as key players who suffered season-ending injuries either before or since the start of the season.

The loss of Fletcher is particularly costly because it seemed the Scarlet Knights had finally found a solid pass-catching tight end, and Fletcher was improving as a blocker.

Rutgers moved the Delran product from defensive end ahead of the Pinstripe Bowl last season and he was making a smooth transition.

Through six games Fletcher caught 20 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

For Konopka, it’s another disappointing injury setback – the Don Bosco Prep product was limited to just three games all of last season.

The 6-foot-7, 263-pound Konopka played in the first six games this season, catching one pass for 12 yards in the season-opener against Howard.

Without Fletcher and Konopka, the Scarlet Knights will need Mike Higgins to step up – Higgins has played just 28 offensive snaps in three games this season. Blake has only made an appearance against Howard.

Higgins has a similar football background as Konopka. He didn't start playing the sport until his senior season at Don Bosco before playing a prep year at Blair Academy.

The 6-foot-5, 251-pound Higgins played in 10 games the previous two seasons.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football: Kenny Fletcher, Victor Konopka out for season